How high school sports divisions are changing in Ohio

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio High School Athletic Association has approved a new look for division structure for multiple sports for the 2024-25 season.

The OHSAA board of directors approved a proposal Thursday morning that changes the formula to determine how many divisions each sport will have. While football will stay at seven divisions, multiple sports will be increasing to seven divisions for postseason play.

Starting in the fall of 2024, girls volleyball, girls and boys basketball, softball, and baseball will increase to seven divisions. The largest 64 OHSAA schools for each of these sports will be in Division I with the rest of the divisions evenly divided. Additionally, girls and boys soccer will have five divisions.

Individual sports will keep its current structure that determines the number of student-athletes required for each team. Those remain at nine for track and field, seven for swimming and diving and wrestling, five for bowling and cross country, four in golf and tennis, and three in girls gymnastics.

The OHSAA will announced date changes and structure for future state tournaments at a later date.